Mel Gibson thinks ex deserves only 1 percent of his monthly living expenses for child support

By BRENNA CAMMERON

|DAILY NEWS WRITER|

Aug 20, 2010 | 3:24 PM

Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva have been battling each other in court over child support. (Winter/Getty)

Mel Gibson's reputation has certainly suffered in recent months, but his fortune seems to have survived intact.

The actor once known for his Hollywood charm told a judge that he needs a $7.2 million "slush fund" to support his lavish lifestyle, reported RadarOnline.com.

During Wednesday's court hearing to determine the amount of child support Gibson owes to ex-lover Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of his 8-month-old daughter Lucia, the actor argued that his own expenses – which only include living costs, not luxury items such as a private jet – were absolute "necessities."

Gibson is reportedly trying to limit Grigorieva's monthly child support payments to $6,000 – which is only 1% of the $600,000 that the star says he spends on himself every 30 days.

In addition to his brutal battle for cash with his baby mama, Gibson is also facing public backlash following the release of his now-infamous expletive-fueled audio tapes.

In the recorded rants, Gibson allegedly accuses Grigorieva of being a money-grubbing "user" who "just f---ing sucks me dry."

Adding further insult to injury: photographic evidence shows a bruised and battered Grigorieva, along with the accusation that Gibson once dealt blows at the Russian beauty while she was holding their daughter in her arms.

Although Gibson says he's rolling in dough now, he was singing a different tune a few months back.

In one of the tapes, an unhinged Gibson rages at Grigorieva, yelling, "I don't have any f---ing money! I have to support you and everybody else!"

According to Radar, Grigorieva explains to the court that she needs more money to pay bodyguards to keep herself and her daughter safe. Gibson says it is not necessary.